Search Results (170)

Background: Interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) remains the gold standard anesthesia method in shoulder surgery. However, risk of diaphragm paralysis is a major concern among anesthesiologists. Recent studies on anterior suprascapular nerve block (ASB) and costoclavicular brachial plexus block (CCB) have given promising results for preventing diaphragm paralysis and providing sufficient analgesia. Methods: Forty-six patients who underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery under one of three regional anesthesia techniques, including ISB (n = 15), ASB (n = 15), and CCB (n = 16), were included in the study. Diaphragmatic excursion was measured by ultrasonography 30 min after the block. Postoperative pain was assessed with a numerical rating scale. The groups were compared in terms of diaphragm paralysis and postoperative pain status. Results: The groups were similar in basic patient and surgical characteristics as well as motor and sensory block scores. There was no difference in analgesic use between the groups. Diaphragm measurements in the ISB group were found to be significantly lower compared to the ASB and CCB groups (p < 0.001). In addition, diaphragm measurements in the ASB group were found to be lower than in the CCB group (p = 0.036). When comparing diaphragm measurements between the initial and 30th min of block, significant decreases were observed in the ISB and ASB groups (p < 0.001), whereas no difference was found in the CCB group. Conclusions: Postoperative pain scores and analgesic use were similar between the three blocks. In terms of diaphragm paralysis, the best blocks appeared to be CCB followed by ASB. CCB and ASB can be considered as safe and effective alternative blocks in arthroscopic shoulder surgery, particularly for patients without serious obstructive or restrictive pulmonary disease. Full article

This study investigates the development of adiabatic shear bands (ASBs) in AISI 1045 carbon steel under high-strain-rate uniaxial compression, emphasizing the conditions governing their onset and growth. Split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) experiments were carried out at strain rates of 1000, 2000 and 4000 s⁻¹ with controlled displacement/strain interruption to capture gradual ASB formation throughout the process. Stress–strain data were analyzed alongside optical microscopy to determine the critical strain for ASB initiation, document ASB morphology, dimensions and type, and connect ASB formulating stages to material macroscopic mechanical behavior. The observations clarify how deformation evolves from homogenous plastic flow to localized shear instability as the strain and strain rate increase, linking mechanical response to microstructural features. Integrating these results, the effects of strain rate and strain progress on ASB formation and evolution characteristics are investigated. These findings enhance our understanding of shear localization phenomena under dynamic loading and provide a basis for predicting failure modes in structural applications. Full article

The aim of this study is to investigate the potential use of rapidly increasing agricultural wastes in concrete production by substituting them for cement, thereby reducing their environmental impact and producing eco-friendly concrete. For this purpose, concrete samples were produced using a combination of almond shell biomass (ASB) and silica fume (SF). These samples were subjected to standard compressive strength tests as well as ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), porosity (P), and maturity (M) tests. In addition, the microstructure of the samples containing ASB and SF was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The test results show that the combined use of ASB and SF in concrete production significantly improves the strength properties, and the best results were obtained from the ASB6SF10 series. A significant increase of 37.7% was observed in the compressive strength values of the ASB6SF10 series from the early age between 3 and 28 days. UPV and P values were obtained as 4.46 m/s and 10%, respectively. The use of ASB and SF in concrete production has been found to be critically important in terms of the mechanical and physical properties of concrete and environmental benefits. The results of the study show that ASB and SF have potential for use in concrete production and can contribute to more sustainable concrete production, waste management, and the circular economy by reducing the negative environmental impacts arising from this production. Full article

The present work studies the developing network of adiabatic shear bands (ASBs) during dynamic plane strain compression of orthogonal AISI 1045 steel billets, aiming to investigate the ASB trajectories and their evolution mechanism. This paper conducts a finite element (FE) numerical analysis in LS-DYNA software, developing a doubly coupled analysis by combining both structural–thermal and structural–damage couplings. The Modified Johnson–Cook (MJC) formulas are considered for modeling both the material plasticity and damage law, implementing thermo-viscoplastic numerical approaches, while a critical temperature for material failure is further adjusted. Finally, the case study relates to a parametric analysis of specimen aspect ratio, aiming to reveal its effect on the developing ASB network and its propagating characteristics. Full article

Background: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is frequently overtreated in emergency departments (EDs), contributing to antimicrobial resistance without improving clinical outcomes. The rapid pace of clinical decision-making and high patient turnover in the ED further predispose clinicians to unnecessary antibiotic prescribing. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in the ED of a tertiary hospital in Barcelona, Spain, from January 2024 to September 2025. The intervention included targeted education for ED staff and daily audit-feedback on antibiotic prescriptions for suspected ASB. The outcomes were the following variables, compared between study periods: cases of ASB with unnecessary antibiotic treatment per month, antimicrobial consumption, urine culture (UC) requests, 30-day return visits to the ED for urinary tract infection, and 30-day all-cause mortality for safety assessment. Results: A total of 93 patients with suspected ASB in the pre-intervention period and 102 patients in the intervention period were included. The median cases of ASB with unnecessary antibiotic treatment per month decrease from 19 (IQR 16–26) in the pre-intervention period to 9 (IQR 9–13) in the intervention period (p = 0.018). Antimicrobial consumption declined: meropenem and imipenem decreased from 5.5 to 3.0 DDD/1000 admissions, ertapenem from 5.6 to 3.1, and ceftriaxone from 35.0 to 24.1. UC requests fell by 16.1%. Clinical safety outcomes did not differ significantly between periods: 30-day return visit to the ED for UTI with the same isolate dropped from 8.6% to 1.9% (p = 0.076), overall UTI return visits to the ED dropped from 11.8% to 5.9% (p = 0.225), and 30-day mortality remained stable (8.6% vs. 4.9%, p = 0.455). Conclusions: These findings support the use of combined educational and audit–feedback strategies as effective and safe Antimicrobial Stewardship interventions in high-intensity clinical environments such as the ED, as they reduce inappropriate antibiotic use and unnecessary UC requests without compromising patient safety. Full article

Ammonia stripping has been widely used to recover ammonia nitrogen from biogas slurry; however, the inhibitory effects on biogas production cannot be fully eliminated if ammonia-stripped biogas slurry (ASBS) is recycled back to the high-solid anaerobic digestion (AD) of animal wastes. This study investigated the performance of swine manure AD with recycling of ASBS and confirmed that there was no positive effect on increasing biogas production for ASBS recycling in the swine manure AD system under high solids (15%). The lowest accumulated methane yield was 133.9 mL/g-VS when swine waste was diluted with only raw biogas slurry (RBS), which was 9.2% lower than that of the water group (C₀). Notably, the performance of AD was enhanced by adding rice husk biochar (RHB), waste iron powder (WIP), or their combination with ammonia-stripped biogas slurry (ASBS) reflux in the swine manure AD system. By adding 9.0 g/L of RHB, the biogas yield increased by 21.1%, and the total ammonia concentration (TAN) reduced by 15.1% compared to ASBS reflux alone (C₁). The methane content reached a maximum of 75.2%, which was 12.8% higher than C₁, while the methane yield was 1.5-times higher with the addition of 9.0 g/L of WIP. Correspondingly, the TAN was reduced, while the degradation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) increased. Both WIP and RHB can provide great potential to reuse biogas slurry in AD with a higher biogas yield and organic degradation rate. This approach facilitates source reduction in biogas slurry and nutrient recovery, while providing insights for reducing water consumption in manure treatment processes and enhancing biogas production efficiency. Full article

Background/Objectives: The management of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) and candiduria (ASC) in kidney transplant recipients during the early post-transplant period is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate whether treating, versus not treating, ASB and ASC episodes in the first two months after kidney transplantation influences clinical outcomes and the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study enrolling patients with ASB or ASC occurring in the first two months after kidney transplantation between January 2019 and July 2024. Patients were classified into treated and untreated groups. The primary endpoint was 30-day mortality. Secondary endpoints included mortality at 90, 180 and 360 days; incidence of sepsis or septic shock; bacteremia/candidemia, hospitalization, graft loss; decline in renal function, urinary tract infections (UTIs), recurrent UTI and rate of MDR colonization/infection. Results: We enrolled 59 kidney transplant recipients and observed 147 episodes of ASB/ASC. Of the 147 episodes, 95 were untreated and 52 were treated. No significant differences were observed between treated and untreated patients in 30-day (2.1% vs. 3.8%) or 90-day mortality (2.1% vs. 1.9%), nor in any of the secondary clinical outcomes. However, patients who received treatment tended to have a higher rate of MDR colonization/infection (63% vs. 46%). MDR pathogen isolation was significantly associated with increased risks of septic shock (OR 4.639, p = 0.04), bacteremia/candidemia (OR 3.734, p = 0.01), hospitalization (OR 2.183, p = 0.03) and renal function deterioration (OR 3.93, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Antimicrobial treatment of ASB and ASC in the early post-transplant period would seem not to confer clinical benefit and may be associated with the risk of MDR colonization/infection. Full article

Antarctic krill, an important marine resource, contains significant arsenic levels, predominantly as the low-toxicity arsenobetaine (AsB). However, the stability of AsB during post-harvest storage and its transformations during human digestion are poorly understood, which is critical for a comprehensive safety assessment. This research investigated the effects of temperature, light exposure, and in vitro simulated digestion on the stability and transformation dynamics of major arsenic species in Antarctic krill. The results revealed that AsB predominated among the arsenic species. AsB remained stable during long-term frozen storage (−18 °C for 5 months) and short-term refrigeration (4 °C for 2 days). However, AsB content decreased significantly during storage at ambient temperature (25 °C) and after prolonged light exposure (>8 h), indicating that improper storage conditions can lead to its degradation. During simulated gastrointestinal digestion, a significant transformation of arsenic species was observed. The content of toxic inorganic As(III) decreased significantly during the gastric phase, while the less-toxic AsB content markedly increased. Furthermore, dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and As(V) were newly detected during the intestinal phase. These findings demonstrate that arsenic stability in krill is highly dependent on storage conditions. Moreover, the transformations during digestion—notably the decrease in As(III) and increase in AsB—suggest a potential reduction in overall arsenic toxicity upon consumption. This provides a critical theoretical basis for developing storage guidelines and improving human health risk assessments for Antarctic krill products. Full article

Ankyrin-repeat and SOCS-box protein 9 (ASB9) is a member of the ASB family of proteins, which act as a substrate recognition component of E3 ubiquitin ligases and regulate various reproductive processes. ASB9 was previously identified as being induced in bovine granulosa cells (GCs) by LH/hCG, and its binding partners, including protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1), were reported. The aim of this study was to decipher ASB9’s mechanisms of action in GCs and determine whether ASB9 induction by LH/hCG is necessary for the regulation of PAR1 and the signaling pathways involved in GC function and activity. Cultured GCs were treated with different doses of FSH, LH, and thrombin. RT-qPCR analyses revealed that thrombin increased PAR1 expression, while FSH had no effect on PAR1. Treatment with LH significantly downregulated PAR1, even in the presence of thrombin, possibly via ASB9. The phosphorylation profile of MAPK3/1 in thrombin-treated GCs suggests PAR1-mediated control. ASB9 induction appeared to have a negative effect on the MAPK pathway, although thrombin treatment briefly (within an hour) blocked the negative effect of ASB9 on PAR1. Proliferation assays showed that ASB9 negatively regulated the GC number while increasing apoptosis. These data provide evidence of ASB9’s mode of action and its potent functional effects on PAR1 regulation, GC proliferation, and, potentially, the ovulatory process in bovine species. Full article

Childhood obesity represents a growing global public health crisis, strongly driven by the widespread consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and, increasingly, artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs). SSB intake drives excessive calorie consumption, reduces satiety, and disrupts hormones, leading to metabolic dysfunction such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Despite some regional declines, global consumption of SSBs remains high, with persistent socioeconomic disparities. Concurrently, ASBs, marketed as healthier alternatives, pose emerging metabolic and behavioral risks, such as gut microbiota disruption and altered appetite regulation, raising concerns about their long-term safety. Both beverage types displace nutritionally balanced food options in children’s diets and foster enduring preferences for sweetness, exacerbating poor dietary quality. Public health interventions targeting SSB reduction have demonstrated modest success; however, rising ASB use complicates prevention strategies. Effective mitigation of childhood obesity requires comprehensive approaches that emphasize reducing all sweetened beverage consumption, promoting water and whole-food hydration, and addressing the behavioral and environmental factors underlying unhealthy beverage choices to improve lifelong health outcomes. Full article

Bacillus paranthracis, a species of the genus Bacillus, is a Gram-positive bacterium classified as an opportunistic pathogen that can cause foodborne diarrhea and other intestinal diseases in humans and various animals. To date, there has been limited research on B. paranthracis, and there are few records of this bacterium being isolated from animal intestines. In this study, a strain named Qf-1 was isolated and purified from faecal samples of mink. Through culturomics, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, whole-genome sequencing, and average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis, the strain was confirmed to be B. paranthracis. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the strain has a genome size of 5.27 Mb, comprising one chromosome (5,224,739 bp) and one plasmid (51,964 bp). Functional annotation of its genome identified multiple potential pathogenic factors associated with pneumonia, including the key genes AsbD and AsbF, which facilitate bacterial colonisation of the lungs and trigger inflammatory responses, as well as EsxB and EsxL, which exacerbate lung inflammation and promote infection spread. Comparative genomics analysis revealed that this strain shares a close evolutionary relationship with previously reported B. paranthracis strains. The structure and function of the bacterial genes were analyzed in depth using multi-omics methods. Through mouse pathogenicity experiments, it was found that this bacterium may cause pneumonia and enteritis in mice. We predict that it may also pose a threat to the health of the mink. These research findings contribute to the establishment of a stable experimental model between pathogens and mink hosts, laying the foundation for further elucidating their pathogenicity and pathogenic mechanisms. This is of great significance for the diagnosis and prevention of bacterial diseases in mink in the future. Full article

Carboxylesterases (CCEs) have been demonstrated to be involved in pyrethroid resistance in insect species. This study aims to investigate CCE-mediated resistance mechanisms in Anopheles sinensis, a major malaria vector. Through comparative transcriptomics of a deltamethrin-resistant strain (CQ-LR) versus susceptible strain (WX-LS) of An. sinensis, we identified differentially expressed CCE genes across five developmental stages, five tissues, and three time points post-blood-meal. Four candidate genes (AsAe9, AsAe10, AsAce2, AsUn5) showed significantly upregulated expression. Subsequent qRT-PCR validation across four field-derived resistant strains (WX-LR, AH-LR, YH-LR, CQ-LR) and the susceptible strain confirmed significant upregulation of AsAe9, AsAe10, AsAce1, AsAce2, and AsBe4 in more than two resistant populations. RNAi-based functional validation showed that silencing AsAe10 or AsBe4 in the WX-LR strain significantly decreased knockdown time and raised 24 h mortality upon diagnostic deltamethrin exposure, with AsAe10 silencing having the strongest effect. This study identifies CCE genes involved in deltamethrin resistance in An. sinensis, providing valuable insights into the resistance mechanisms of pyrethroid and a theoretical basis for mosquito resistance management. Full article

Background/Objectives: Methods of estimating the biological profile in forensic anthropology must meet criteria set forth by standards for admissibility in legal proceedings. Subadult biological profile methods have not been as extensively validated due to limited sources of subadult skeletal reference data. Methods: Data for the contemporary Japanese validation sample were collected from full-body, postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) scans (n = 118). Ten subadult age and stature estimation methods using long bone lengths were validated for accuracy, precision, and bias. The methods included both linear and nonlinear regression. Results: Nonlinear regression methods yielded high validation accuracy and precision for age (>90%; <2.5 cm) and stature (>95.89%; <17 cm) and performed better than linear regression methods. Most methods do not meet criteria set by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Standards Board (ASB) or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Conclusions: As skeletal data become increasingly accessible, it is important to continue to validate currently available methods for estimating aspects of the subadult biological profile while also prioritizing the creation of new population-specific and generic methods applicable for forensic casework. Particular focus should lie on improving reference skeletal material variation, appropriate statistical modeling, and adherence to standards in forensic anthropology. Recommendations for choosing the most appropriate method, given a subadult forensic case, are provided. Full article

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission, operational from 2002 to 2017, provided critical measurements of Earth’s gravity field anomalies which have been extensively used to study groundwater and terrestrial water storage (TWS) dynamics. In this research, we utilize GRACE data to identify, model, and analyze potential climate parameters contributing to the reconstruction of TWS variability in the Aral Sea Basin region (ASB). We assess the impact of climate change and anthropogenic nature management on TWS change using a quantitative method. Our analysis reveals a significant decline in the TWS at a rate of 0.44 cm year⁻¹ during the 2005–2009 period, primarily attributed to the prevailing drought conditions in the region. Notably, the estimated impact of anthropogenic influence on TWS during the same period of −1.39 cm year⁻¹ is higher than the influence of climatic variables, indicating that anthropogenic activity was the dominant factor in water resource depletion. In contrast, we observed an increase in TWS at a rate of 0.82 cm year⁻¹ during the 2013–2017 period, which can be attributed to the implementation of more effective water resource management practices in the ASB. Full article

The Aral Sea Basin (ASB), situated in Central Asia, serves as a prime example of a man-made environmental disaster. The practice of irrigation can be traced back to ancient times. However, the substantial water withdrawals that have occurred since the second half of the 20th century appear to have led to the irreversible drying up of the Aral Sea and the disruption of the flow of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers. This study conducts a comprehensive review of satellite data from the past sixty years, drawing upon a selection of peer-reviewed papers available on Scopus. The selection of papers is conducted in accordance with a methodology that is predicated on the combination of keywords. The study focuses on geoscientific aspects, including the atmosphere, water resources, geology, and geological hazards. The primary sensors employed in this study were Terra-MODIS, NOAA-AVHRR, and the Landsat series. It is evident that certain data types, including radar data, US or Soviet archives, and very-high-resolution data such as OrbView-3, have seen minimal utilisation. Despite the restricted application of remote sensing data in publications addressing the ASB, remote sensing data offer a substantial repository for monitoring the desiccation of the Aral Sea, once the fourth largest continental body of water, and for the estimation of its water surface and volume. Nevertheless, the utilisation of remote sensing in publications concerning the Aral region remains limited, with less than 10% of publications employing this method. Sentinel-2 data has been utilised to illustrate the construction of the Qosh Tepa Canal in Afghanistan, a project which has been the subject of significant controversy, with a particular focus on the issue of water leakage. This predicament is indicative of the broader challenges confronting the region with regard to water management in the context of climate change. A comparison of the Aral Sea’s case history is drawn with analogous examples worldwide, including Lake Urmia, the Great Salt Lake, and, arguably more problematically, the Caspian Sea. Full article